The Sam Rayburn Rebels will challenge the Tom Bean Tomcats at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Tom Bean will be up against a hot Sam Rayburn squad: the team just extended their winning streak to four. Sam Rayburn never let Tioga get on the board and left with a 10-0 win on Tuesday. That ten run margin sets a new team best for the Rebels this season.
Jamison Dorris made a splash while hitting and pitching. He didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over five innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in four consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Clay Caldwell, who scored three runs and stole three bases while going 2-for-2. Those three stolen bases gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Cash Mason, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, after only two runs in their last match, Tom Bean made sure to put some runs up on the board against Dodd City on Tuesday. Tom Bean blew past Dodd City 15-0. The victory was some much needed relief for the Tomcats as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Like Sam Rayburn, Tom Bean also got a great game from a two-way player: Keaton Reed. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Reed also tossed a walk, which is notable because Tom Bean is undefeated when he allows at most two walks, but 5-6 otherwise. Reed was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Hagen Darney and Cash Linder did most of the damage at the plate: Darney went a perfect 4-for-4 with five RBI and two runs, while Linder went 1-for-2 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Linder is becoming a predictor of Tom Bean's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is undefeated (and 3-6 when he doesn't). Dyson Farris was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.
Tom Bean always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .724. They are a perfect 5-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Tom Bean's win bumped their record up to 8-6. As for Sam Rayburn, their victory bumped their record up to 10-2-1.
Sam Rayburn beat Tom Bean 5-1 in their previous matchup back in May of 2022. Does Sam Rayburn have another victory up their sleeve, or will Tom Bean turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
